Clothing press apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A foldable and flexible sheet capable of ensuring that an article of clothing, such as a shirt collar or cuff, remains pressed and unwrinkled during and after the laundering of that clothing article. In the practice of an aspect of the present invention, the clothing press apparatus is applied to the desired article of clothing prior to laundering that article. The clothing press is suitably rigid to prevent bunching or wrinkling of the clothing, while ensuring that the proper shape of the article of clothing is maintained. The clothing press is of such a shape, design, and formed of such materials as to prevent the damaging of the laundering machine or other clothing being laundered along with the selected garment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority in U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/542,064, filed Sep. 30, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for pressing and maintaining clothing, and particularly to an apparatus which is secured over a clothing item, such as a shirt collar, or a shirt or pant cuff, such that the clothing item remains pressed after the item is washed.

2. Description of the Related Art

The desire to have clothing neatly pressed and wrinkle-free is widely accepted and preferable. Clothing irons, ironing boards, and starches are some of the more historical means for pressing clothing. A recent trend in clothing manufacturing is to create “non-iron” shirts and pants. These clothing items are touted to be wrinkle-resistant, even after being run through a commercial washer and dryer.

Wrinkle-free and non-iron clothing items have advanced to a great degree; however, over time wrinkles do appear in these clothing items, especially on and around the collars and cuffs of shirts, and the cuffs of jeans and pants. Cuffs tend to roll up, causing wrinkles that must be ironed out. Shirt collars also tend to roll up, but also bunch up after a trip through a commercial washer and dryer. What is needed is some means of ensuring that cuffs and collars of clothing items remain neatly pressed while the clothing item is run through a commercial washer and dryer, eliminating the time spent on ironing these clothing items.

Heretofore there has not been available a clothing press apparatus and method of laundering clothing with the advantages and features of the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus capable of ensuring that an article of clothing, such as a shirt collar or cuff, remains pressed and unwrinkled during and after the laundering of that clothing article. In the practice of an aspect of the present invention, the clothing press apparatus is applied to the desired article of clothing prior to laundering that article. The clothing press is suitably rigid to prevent bunching or wrinkling of the clothing, while ensuring that the proper shape of the article of clothing is maintained. The clothing press is of such a shape, design, and formed of such materials as to prevent the damaging of the laundering machine or other clothing being laundered along with the selected garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating various objects and features thereof

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the present invention shown interacting with a typical environment.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the reverse plan view being a mirror image thereof

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention, the reverse plan view being a mirror image thereof

FIG. 5 is a view of an embodiment of the present invention interacting with a typical environment—namely, a shirt collar.

FIG. 6 is a continuation of the view shown in FIG. 5, showing the embodiment engaging the shirt collar.

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention shown interacting with a typical environment.

FIG. 8 is a view of an embodiment of the present invention interacting with a typical environment—namely, the cuffs of a collared shirt.

FIG. 9 is a continuation of the view shown in FIG. 8, showing the embodiment engaging the shirt cuff.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS I. Introduction and Environment

As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientated in the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction of travel, if appropriate. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning.

II. Preferred Embodiment or Aspect of a Clothing Press Apparatus 2

Referring to the drawings in more detail; the reference numeral 2 generally designates a clothing press apparatus 2 capable of ensuring that clothing collars and cuffs remain straight during and after laundering. The clothing press 2 can be used on any piece of clothing subject to becoming wrinkled or otherwise distorted during regular laundering in a commercial washing machine and/or dryer. This includes, but is not limited to, collared shirts, jeans including cuffs, and shirts including cuffs.

FIG. 1 demonstrates a clothing press 2 used to press a standard shirt collar 10 of a standard dress shirt 8. The clothing press 2 is generally composed of a frame 4 and a mesh 6. The frame 4 is designed to ensure that the press 2 rigidly locks onto a piece of clothing, such as the shirt collar 10 shown, and the mesh 6 is of sufficient rigidity to ensure that the fabric is completely pressed, preventing any wrinkling or bunching of the fabric. The frame 4 may be comprised of steel, such as “snap-steel” or memory steel, which collapses back into the shape shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 when released. The mesh 6 may be of any material, including stainless steel or silk. FIG. 2 shows the clothing press apparatus of FIG. 1 in isolation. The frame ideally is made of separate segments and/or members which are capable of sliding against one another, thereby elongating or shortening the cover.

After the clothing press 2 is applied to a shirt collar, as shown by FIG. 1, the clothing item may be placed into a commercial washing machine for laundering, after which it may be placed in a commercial dryer. Once the garment is completely clean, the clothing press 2 is removed, revealing a sharply pressed collar, cuff, or other clothing element, with no need for ironing.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a clothing press 2, wherein the frame 4 is surrounded by a cover 12. The cover may be any soft material, such as cotton cloth, and acts to insulate the frame 4, which may become hot to the touch from the drying process. The edges of the cover 12 and the frame 4 are rounded to prevent snagging or otherwise damaging other clothing during laundering. A number of slide locks 16, which allow the size of the clothing press 2 to be adjusted, are located along the frame 4. The adjustable length accommodates clothing of all sizes, ranging from small shirt cuffs to large shirt collars. A fold line 14 is shown, upon which the frame 4 may automatically fold when the clothing press 2 is released. In other embodiments, the clothing press 2 may be manually folded along the fold line 14 by a typical user.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of a clothing press 2, wherein the frame 4 lacks a cover 12. The frame retains rounded edges to prevent damaging clothing during laundering, and the functionality is otherwise identical.

FIG. 5 shows a clothing press 2 folded along a fold line 14 as it would approach a standard shirt collar 10 of a standard dress shirt 8. FIG. 6 shows the next step, in which the collar 10 is fully embraced by the clothing press 2. The frame 4 ensures that the press 2 is firmly clamped about the fabric, and the mesh 6 firmly presses against the collar fabric, preventing wrinkling or bunching of the fabric. The press 2 may then be manually or atomically rolled up into the natural circular or elliptical shape of the collar 10. FIGS. 1 and 2 clearly show the end result of such an embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a pair of clothing presses 2 being used to press the cuffs 18 of a standard dress shirt 8. The cuffs are completely encircled by and contained within the clothing press 2, firmly embraced by the frame 4 and mesh 6 to prevent the material from wrinkling or bunching in any way. The slides 16 may be adjusted to accommodate the smaller circumference of the cuffs 18.

FIG. 8 shows a clothing press 2 folded along a fold line 14 as it would approach a standard shirt cuff 18 of a standard dress shirt 8. FIG. 9 shows the next step, in which the cuff 18 is fully embraced by the clothing press 2. The frame 4 ensures that the press 2 is firmly clamped about the fabric, and the mesh 6 firmly presses against the collar fabric, preventing wrinkling or bunching of the fabric. The press 2 may then be manually or atomically rolled up into the natural circular or elliptical shape of the cuff 18. FIGS. 1 and 2 clearly show the end result of such an embodiment.

The clothing press 2 may be used on any clothing item, and may be formed to whatever preference is necessary. For example, the clothing press may be used to ensure that the cuffs of jeans or pants do not roll and bunch during laundering. For another example, the clothing press may be of sufficient size to press the pleat of a pant leg.

It is to be understood that the invention can be embodied in various forms, and is not to be limited to the examples discussed above. The range of components and configurations which can be utilized in the practice of the present invention is virtually unlimited. 

Having thus described the disclosed subject matter, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:
 1. A foldable sheet, comprising: a frame including a top member, a bottom member, and two side members, wherein said ends frame a central gap; a cover covering said frame; a flexible sheet of material having an inner face, an outer face, opposite sides, and opposite ends, said sheet affixed to the frame cover and occupying said central gap; a top fold point located on said top frame member and a bottom fold point located on said bottom frame member; and wherein said frame is adapted to fold along an axis crossing said top fold point and said bottom fold point.
 2. The foldable sheet of claim 1, further comprising: each said side member including at least two slide lock elements; wherein said top frame member is slidably engaged with said two side members, and said bottom frame is similarly slidably engaged with said two slide members; and wherein said slide lock elements are capable of temporarily preventing said top frame member and bottom frame member from sliding relative to said side members.
 3. The foldable sheet of claim 1, wherein said sheet is water resistant and heat resistant such that said sheet is capable of being processed through a mechanical clothes washing machine and a mechanical clothes dryer.
 4. The foldable sheet of claim 3, wherein said foldable sheet is adapted to close over a standard shirt collar.
 5. The foldable sheet of claim 3, wherein said foldable sheet is adapted to close over a standard shirt sleeve cuff.
 6. The foldable sheet of claim 3, wherein said foldable sheet is adapted to close over a standard pant cuff.
 7. The foldable sheet of claim 1, further comprising: wherein said frame members are comprised of steel; and wherein said top member and bottom member are capable of snapping from an open position to a closed position at said fold points.
 8. A foldable sheet adapted for use with clothing, the sheet comprising: a frame including a top member, a bottom member, and two side members, wherein said ends frame a central gap; each said side member including at least two slide lock elements; wherein said top frame member is slidably engaged with said two side members, and said bottom frame is similarly slidably engaged with said two slide members; and wherein said slide lock elements are capable of temporarily preventing said top frame member and bottom frame member from sliding relative to said side members; an insulating cover covering said frame; a flexible sheet of material having an inner face, an outer face, opposite sides, and opposite ends, said sheet affixed to the frame cover and occupying said central gap; a top fold point located on said top frame member and a bottom fold point located on said bottom frame member; and wherein said frame is adapted to fold along an axis crossing said top fold point and said bottom fold point.
 9. A method of laundering a shirt, comprising: providing a foldable sheet including a covered frame comprised of multiple frame members defining a central gap, and a flexible sheet affixed to the covered frame and filling said central gap; sliding said frame members such that said foldable sheet has a length that corresponds to the length of a portion of clothing having a first face and a second face; placing a first face of said foldable sheet against said first face of said clothing; folding said foldable sheet in half such that said first face of said foldable sheet is placed against said second face of said portion of clothing, thereby pressing said portion of clothing flat; and laundering said shirt using a mechanical clothes washing machine and a mechanical clothes dryer. 